Accreditation

Franklin Pierce University is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools
and Colleges (NEASC); this regional accreditation includes both the New Hampshire
and Arizona campuses.

The Masters in Physical Therapy Program in New Hampshire was granted initial accreditation
by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in April
2002. The Physical Therapy Program was approved to convert to a Doctor of Physical
Therapy Program in April 2005. In April 2009, CAPTE approved an expansion of the Doctor
of Physical Therapy Program to the campus in Goodyear, A.Z, where classes commenced
there in June 2009. Each program is separately accredited with the next full accreditation
review scheduled in 2016 for both New Hampshire and Arizona programs.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Franklin Pierce University in Manchester, New Hampshire is accredited by:

Curriculum

Facilities & Anatomy Instruction

There is an anatomy multi-function lab which contains plastic models, charts, skeletons
and plastinated specimens. Plastinated specimens are real cadaveric parts which are
leased from the University of Michigan. The cadaver is dissected to the specifications
of the program and then slowly infused with plastic so that the body part becomes
preserved without exposing students to environmentally hazardous materials. The plastinated
specimens have a 90 year shelf life and give the students an opportunity to access
specimens throughout their three academic years of study.The Concord, N.H. Center
has recently moved into a new facility in Manchester, N.H. The Manchester Center campus
occupies the entire third floor of the building at 670 North Commercial Street, Manchester,
N.H. The Center houses the Physical Therapy program during the day and other graduate
and undergraduate programs in the evenings and on weekends. This gives the physical
therapy students access to the entire space, computer lab and classrooms during the
day, and to the computer lab and study areas during the other operating hours. The
program is taught in two large classrooms and three spacious labs and the students
have access to ten classrooms and seminar rooms.

The anatomy instruction in class, lab and on the computer is supplemented by anatomy
lab at Dartmouth Medical School during which students have an opportunity to observe
full body dissections to better appreciate the relationship of structure.

Franklin Pierce University's DPT program at the Goodyear Campus is currently offered
at 14555 West Van Buren Street, Building A, Suite 100, Goodyear, A.Z. Classes are
taught in two classrooms and two labs and students have access to the entire building.
The off-campus anatomy lab is provided by agreement with Glendale Community College
at their state-of-the-art facility just 15 minutes away.

The Franklin Pierce University College of Graduate and Professional Studies does not
provide housing, meals or transportation. An active Physical Therapy Student Association
aids fellow students in finding ways to meet these needs.

Clinical Education

Clinical education is a vital component in the professional education of the Franklin
Pierce physical therapy student and is integrated throughout the physical therapy
program curriculum. Our students have four integrated clinical experiences spread
through the first two years of the curriculum, and the third year is comprised primarily
of full-time clinical placements totaling 32 weeks. Franklin Pierce students participate
in clinical experiences at clinical education centers around the country. These placements
provide the students with the exciting opportunities to apply skills they have learned
in the classroom to real life settings and to develop new skills under the guidance
of their Clinical Instructors. Clinical Education resource - View the Professional Behaviors for the 21st Century.

Financial Support

The Financial Aid office works with each DPT student to plan for the payment of tuition
and other costs through student loans, grants, scholarships, or alternative forms
of credit. More information is available on the Financial Aid page.

There are a limited number of part time work-study opportunities for students in the
DPT program, and these positions are awarded during the first term of each year. There
are also four Graduate Research Assistant positions available each year, and they
are offered to exceptional students who are attending the second year of the program.
It is not recommended that students plan to work significant hours while participating
in this full time program.

The $2,500 Alumni Scholarship, established by the Alumni Board in 2002, will be awarded
to one student enrolled in the DPT program each year.

Tuition and Fees

Additional costs for books, clinical education requirements (such as health insurance),
as well as costs for housing, transportation and meals, are the responsibility of
the student and cannot be estimated by the University.